When Is a Dog Considered a “Senior”?
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But when exactly is a dog considered "old"? The answer is more complicated than you might think.
Key Takeaways
- The common idea that you can multiply a dog's age by seven to get its human age is an oversimplification and is not accurate.¹
- Dogs develop quickly at first. After about two years, they develop at a much slower rate.
- Small dog breeds tend to have longer lifespans than larger dogs, and so are considered seniors at a later age.
- Most senior dogs tend to have different needs, including exercise, diet, and supplements, from when they were younger.
- Earth Buddy was founded to improve the quality of life of senior dogs, and we still make everything with our senior pets in mind.
See Related: Hemp for Dogs - Everything You Need to Know
Dog Age vs Human Age
You've probably heard of the math trick that supposedly converts dog years to human years. It sounds simple: Multiply your dog's age by seven, and you'll get their equivalent age in human years.
So a five-year-old dog is the equivalent of a 35-year-old human. Each human year is equivalent to seven dog years.
Unfortunately, that equation is not accurate. It's extremely common, likely because of its simplicity, but it's not a good way to tell whether your dog is a senior.
A Better Comparison
One of the reasons that the equation is no good is the fact that dogs age at different rates throughout their lives.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first year of a dog's life is actually equivalent to 15 years for a human.² That's a lot of development in 12 months!
The second year of your dog's life is then equivalent to roughly nine years for a human.
So when your dog turns two, they aren't the equivalent of a 14-year-old human, as you might think if you use the "multiply by seven" trick. They're actually 24!
After the first two years, your dog develops a lot slower. That's similar to how humans develop much more slowly after reaching their early twenties.
Each year for your dog is then equivalent to about five years for humans.
For example, let's say your dog is turning six years old. With this more complicated equation, your furry friend would be the equivalent of a 44-year-old human.
But Still Not Totally Accurate
But wait. There's more.
Two dogs could both be six years old, but one could be the equivalent of a 40-year-old human, while the other might be equal to a 49-year-old human.³
That gap only widens as these two hypothetical dogs age.
What's the difference?
The secret lies in their size.
How Size Influences a Dog's Age
Put simply, the larger a dog is, the faster they will age. Smaller dogs also tend to live longer than larger dogs.
According to the American Kennel Club, there are four rough categories of dog size:³
- Small: 20 pounds or less
- Medium: 21-50 pounds
- Large: 51-100 pounds
- Giant: Over 100 pounds
In turn, these different dogs have different expected lifespans, according to PetMD:⁴
- Small: 10-15 years
- Medium: 10-13 years
- Large: 10-12 years
- Giant: 8-10 years
As you can see, our six-year-old giant dog might be approaching their golden years. You would definitely consider them a senior dog.
But our six-year-old small dog might not even be halfway through their expected lifespan. Definitely not a senior dog!
Therefore, large and giant breeds will become "senior" sooner than small breeds or medium breeds.
Bonus: Is "Grain-Free" Good for Your Dog?
Why Do Different Size Dogs Age Differently?
This is actually a question scientists are still working on. The short answer is we still don't know - at least, not completely.
In general, smaller dogs are thought to experience less stress on their bodies, particularly on their hearts. Conversely, larger dogs experience more stress on their hearts.
Maintaining heart health is crucial, which is why our Hemp Dog Chews are made with organic coconut oil, which is full of fatty acids. Fatty acids are vital to everyday health, the heart, and the cardiovascular system.
When Different Dogs Are Considered a Senior Dog
Taking size into account, here's when dogs are generally considered senior dogs:
- Small: 10-12 years
- Medium: 8-10 years
- Large: 8-9 years
- Giant: 6-7 years
When it comes to determining whether your dog is considered a senior, the popular equation for converting dog years to human years isn't actually that helpful.¹ Instead, consider their size and expected lifespan.
That said, there are other things to look out for.
Signs Your Dog Might Be a Senior Dog
As both dogs and humans age, we undergo certain changes. An aging dog will naturally look and act differently from a younger dog.
Many of the changes that occur as your senior dog ages are totally normal and expected. Still, they might require you to change how you support your furry friend. Just like you would support an older relative differently than a young one.
Let's discuss some physical and mental changes that might indicate your dog is entering their senior years.
Energy Levels
Most dogs become less active as they age.⁵ If your otherwise healthy dog is sleeping more, less interested in intensive play, and more resistant to long walks, it might be a sign that their years are catching up to them.
Appetite
Similarly, senior dogs tend to eat less than younger dogs.⁶
Of course, this is all relative. An older large-breed dog will still likely need more food than a young dog of a smaller breed.
And research shows that while senior dogs might need fewer calories than their younger selves, they actually need roughly 50% more protein than younger dogs to help maintain their muscle mass.¹¹
Some weight loss is to be expected from senior dogs.⁷ If you notice any major changes in appetite, including weight gain, consult your vet.
Mobility
Like senior humans, senior dogs might need additional joint support as they age.⁸ ⁹ Again, what exactly they need might depend on their size.¹⁰
That's why we offer two separate Joint Supplements Bundles.
The first is for small-breed dogs. It's appropriately called the Small Breed Joint Supplement Bundle.
The second, our Large Dog Joint Supplement Bundle, is for larger dogs over 50 pounds.
Each bundle comes with our Focus + Immune Capsules made with mushrooms and hemp, as well as our Mobility Hemp Extract. These help maintain joint mobility, cartilage, and connective tissue. They enhance bone and joint health and can help ease joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity.
Skin and Coat
Like humans, your furry friend might go gray as they age.
It's important to keep an eye on your senior dog's skin and coat. That's why we offer a Skin & Coat Support Pack. It combines our Paw & Skin Balm with our Hemp Extract to support skin and coat health.
Conclusion
Determining whether your dog is considered a senior might be slightly more complex than simple multiplication, but it's not rocket science. Once you take into account their age and behavior, you should be able to tell whether your furry friend is in their golden years.
Having done that, you can care for them appropriately to ensure they continue to live their best lives.
Keep Reading: How Long Does CBD Stay In a Dog’s System?
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References
- Quantitative Translation of Dog-to-Human Aging by Conserved Remodeling of the DNA Methylome
- Caring for senior cats and dogs
- How to Calculate Dog Years to Human Years
- How Long Do Dogs Live?
- Age and Physical Activity Levels in Companion Dogs: Results From the Dog Aging Project
- Why Is My Dog Not Eating? Causes and What To Do
- Weight Loss In Older Dogs: When To Worry
- Winning the race with aging: age-related changes in gait speed and its association with cognitive performance in dogs
- Evaluation of a low-technology system to obtain morphological and mobility trial measurements in dogs and investigation of potential predictors of canine mobility
- Demographic factors associated with joint supplement use in dogs from the Dog Aging Project
- Choosing the Right Dog Food For Your Senior Dog
Further Reading
- Beyond gray muzzles: defining aging in dogs
- Anxiety and impulsivity: Factors associated with premature graying in young dogs
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Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD hemp oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.
